Jamuna Devi demands suspension of forest officials

Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Jamuna Devi on Tuesday demanded suspension of top forest officials for their alleged negligence in disappearing of tigers from the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Jamuna Devi on Tuesday demanded suspension of top forest officials for their alleged negligence in disappearing of tigers from the Panna Tiger Reserve.

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"Action should be taken against PCCF Dr P B Gangopadhyay and PCCF (Wildlife) Dr H S Pabla for turning Panna Tiger Reserve into Sariska on the issue of disappearance of tigers," Jamuna demanded in a letter to the State Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Union Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh.

Jamuna said that it has been established with the Centre's Special Probe Committee report that tigers were killed in the Panna Tiger Reserve and for this the top officials of the forest department are responsible.

The Leader of Opposition also alleged that both the top officials have misused the funds allocated from the Centre for the tiger conservation and were involved in harassing the innocent tribals by leaving their main job of conserving forests and wildlife.

She also urged the Union Forest Minister to ensure before declaring Ratapani Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve that big cats exist there or not by sending a central team.